Shooting duets with Sonakshi Sinha in 'Lingaa' were difficult, says Rajinikanth

December 9, 2014

Sinha LingaaHyderabad, Dec 9: He may have worked in about 170 films in a career spanning nearly four decades, but superstar Rajinikanth says he was tensed while shooting duets with Bollywood actress Sonakshi Sinha for his upcoming film Lingaa.

"I worked very hard for this film. Working hard does not mean the action scenes of a train fight or climax fight.

It is about doing duets with these two girls (Sonakshi and South Indian actress Anushka). I know Sonakshi since her childhood. She grew up at the same time like Aishwarya and Soundarya (his daughters) did.

"I was sweating when I had to do duets with her. I did not feel so tensed even while doing the first take in my first film. If God is to punish an artiste, it is by letting him do a duet after the age of 60," he said, evoking peels of laughter at a curtain-raiser event for Lingaa held here last evening.

The film, scheduled to hit the silver screens on December 12, would be released in Telugu as well.

Rajinikanth said he acted in Lingaa after a gap of about four-and-half years, as Kochadaiyan (released earlier this year), an animation film, belonged to a different genre. The storyline of Lingaa deals with the construction of a mega dam and is set in the pre-independence era.

"It is my luck that I have done such a film in my career," he said. Noting that the film wrapped up in just six months though it dealt with a big storyline, busy stars and technicians like A R Rahman, Sonakshi Sinha, Anushka and involved thousands of artistes, he praised the film's director KS Ravikumar, producer Rockline Venkatesh and the technicians for completing the movie in a short time.

Hollywood films are generally shot in a short period of a few months, though the film-makers work on it for months and years before beginning the shoot. Rajinikanth favoured such a practice being followed in India too.

The actor, however, said Telugu film Bahubali currently being made by ace Telugu director SS Rajamouli, is an exception as its requirements were different.

Appreciating Rajamouli, who made sensational hits in Telugu like Eega (Makkhi in Hindi), Magadheera, Maryada Ramanna and Vikramarkudu, he said the Telugu director is going to be "number one in India".

Rajinikanth said he would like to act in a film directed by Rajamouli.

On the occasion, the superstar condoled the deaths and devastation caused by cyclone Hudhud in Visakhapatnam and coastal Andhra Pradesh in October this year.

Regretting that he could not attend a fund-raiser event organised by the Telugu film industry for cyclone relief, Rajinikanth sought apology for it and said he would make a contribution for the same.

On the occasion, Sonakshi said it was an honour for her to share screen space with Rajinikanth in the film and that she learnt a lot from him.

Veteran Telugu director KViswananth (who made films like Eshwar in Hindi), South Indian actress Anushka who also stars in Lingaa, famous Telugu director Trivikram Srinivas, leading producer Allu Aravind and several other prominent film personalities attended the event.

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Agencies
January 11,2020

Washington, Jan 11: Fresh off his win at the Golden Globes, actor Joaquin Phoenix participated in a climate change protest and was arrested by the police.

The "Joker" star took part in the weekly protests against climate change, started by Hollywood veteran Jane Fonda.

According to Variety, the 45-year-old actor also addressed the crowd of close to 300 people.

In his short speech, he took aim at the meat and dairy industry for being the third leading cause of the climate crisis.

"Sometimes we wonder what can we do in this fight against climate change, and there is something that you can do today and tomorrow, by making a choice about what you consume," Phoenix said.

"There are things I can't avoid. I flew a plane here today, or last night rather, but one thing I can do is change my eating habits," he added.

Besides Phoenix, veteran Hollywood star Martin Sheen also turned up for the protest and got arrested by the police. Actors Maggie Gyllenhaal and Susan Sarandon were also present.

Capitol Police said it arrested 147 people who were charged with crowding, obstructing or incommoding. All the protestors were later released.

Fonda, who was on stage with Phoenix, called him "one of the greatest living actors today".

She has been protesting weekly as part of her "Fire Drill Fridays" initiative since announcing she was moving to Washington "to be closer to the epicenter of the fight for our climate." Her participation has ended in multiple arrests.

Earlier this month, Phoenix had talked about climate change at the Golden Globes ceremony, asking Hollywood to walk the talk on the issue.

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News Network
July 26,2020

A gang has been spreading rumours about me in the Hindi film industry that is preventing him from getting work, says Academy award-winning music director A R Rahman.

Collaborations between him and the Hindi film industry have reduced as a result, he adds

The maestro had composed music for Sushant Singh Rajput's Dil Bechara said that the reason he is not doing a lot of work is that a gang has been spreading rumours about him which resulted in him getting fewer projects.

Rahman's comments come amidst a raging insider versus outsider debate in Bollywood following actor Sushant Singh Rajput's untimely demise last month.

During an interview with Radio Mirchi, the Oscar-winning music director was asked the reason for doing less Hindi films.

Rahman said there has been "misunderstanding" between him and filmmakers as some people have been spreading "false rumours" about him in the industry.

"See, I don’t say no to good movies, but I think there is a gang, which, due to misunderstandings, is spreading some false rumours. So when Mukesh Chhabra came to me, I gave him four songs in two days. He said, 'Sir, how many people said don’t go, don’t go (to him). They told me stories after stories'," he said.

"I heard that, and I said, 'yeah okay, now I understand why I am doing less (work) and why the good movies are not coming to me.' I am doing dark movies, because there is a whole gang working against me, without them knowing that they are doing harm," the composer added.

Rahman has composed the music for Rajput's last movie "Dil Bechara", which premiered on Disney+ Hotstar on Friday. The film, directed by Mukesh Chhabra, also features Sanjana Sanghi and Saif Ali Khan.

The composer further said that he is aware of people's expectations from him but the "gang" is getting in his way.

"People are expecting me to do stuff, but there is another gang of people preventing that from happening. It is fine because I believe in destiny. I believe that everything comes from God.

"So, I am taking my own movies and doing my other stuff. But all of you are welcome to come to me. You make beautiful movies, and you are welcome to come to me," Rahman added.

Dubbed ‘Mozart of Madras’, A R Rahman has composed soundtracks for movies like Swades, Dil Se, Guru, Rockstar and more recently Sushant Singh Rajput’s Dil Bechara. 

The composer won two Academy Awards in 2009 for his songs in the popular Hollywood movie, Slumdog Millionaire. The composer also received a Golden Globes Award for his work in this movie.

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Agencies
July 8,2020

Washington D.C, Jul 8: Adding another feather to her cap, actor Priyanka Chopra on Wednesday announced that she has been chosen as the ambassador of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2020.

Priyanka has joined the list of 50 celebrated filmmakers and actors who are invited as the ambassadors of the TIFF.

The 37-year-old star put out a post on Instagram and shared a montage featuring snippets of her empowering addresses at the TIFF. Along with the video, Priyanka noted that the TIFF has been a second home for her.

She wrote, "Throughout my career TIFF has been a second home for me, with many of my films, as both an actor and producer, making their world debut at the festival."

Talking about the film festival that focuses on special stories and storytellers, the 'Dostana' star added, "TIFF has always been at the forefront of supporting and championing global content that showcases diversity and inclusion, a charge led by my friend @cameronpbailey and his talented team, who work with passion to shine a spotlight on these special stories and storytellers."

"Even more than that, one of the most exceptional parts of the festival are the fans of cinema who congregate to celebrate the magic of the movies, and who have always embraced me with so much warmth and love," Priyanka added.

She shared that she feels proud to serve as the ambassador to the festival and noted," I am very proud to serve as an ambassador this year, and I look forward to continuing a relationship that I value tremendously."

The esteemed film festival will be opting for digital screenings and virtual red carpets in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The festival is scheduled to kick off from September 10 to September 19, 2020. 

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